Laborer’s Local 75 pickets Greenhouse Group site can’t stop them, but we can inform the public.” He said he has nothing against someone making a living, but he feels in the case of nonunion contractors it’s the contractor making all the money. Kahn said it is important to
By HEIDI LITCHFIELD hlitchfield@shawmedia.com MORRIS – Representatives from Laborer’s Local 75 were on hand Friday at the former Rockwell Inn in Morris to picket the construction site and Mosaic Construction LLC, which has been hired as general contractors. “We contacted the general contractors, Mosaic, and asked if some of the work would be done by union contractors. They said it wouldn’t,” said Mike Serena, president of Local 75. “We have good people in Morris who can do the work and who are union.” The former restaurant is the site of a medical marijuana dispensary to be run by Greenhouse Group. Mitch Kahn, CEO of Greenhouse Group, confirmed Friday the work is being done by a nonunion company. It’s the same company that did the work at the company’s Deerfield and
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Laborer’s Union Local 75 pickets Greenhouse Group LLC’s location in Morris where nonunion contractors Mosaic Construction LLC is remodeling the former Rockwell Inn. Mokena dispensary locations. “We are using the same contractor for all three locations. It’s a matter of economy of scale,” Kahn said. Serena said the union’s stance is to inform the public
when work is being done without union contractors so people can be aware. “It’s our job to inform the public to let them know the contractor is paying less than standard wages,” he said. “We
Morris council to vote on Lisbon Road upgrades, other measures By MIKE MALLORY mmallory@shawmedia.com MORRIS – The Morris Street and Alley Committee recommended Thursday that City Council approve three ordinances at its Nov. 16 meeting. Perhaps the most significant in the near future involves further improvements along the roadway north and south of the Lisbon Road bridge, which crosses Interstate 80. If approved by City Council, “D” Construction will expand on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s bridge project by extending curbs and gutters, pavement and a sidewalk from Gore Road north of the interstate, south to the radius of Candlelight Lane/Boulder Drive. The bridge project, which is on track and nearing completion, includes 15-foot-wide lanes, up from the former 11 feet. The previously outdated bridge did not have a side-
him and his partners to be part of the community, and while they aren’t using a local contractor for this job, they are looking to hire a local person to manage the company’s Morris dispensary. “We want to be local as much as we can,” he said.
walk, which forced bicyclists and pedestrians to cross it within the vehicle lanes. Alderman Don Hansen said Friday the addition would tie in nicely with the state’s project and allow nonmotorists to travel across the bridge safely with a continuous sidewalk. “Fields of Saratoga residents should feel more connected to the city, and it’d be a big plus for pedestrians and bicyclists,” Hansen said. There’s also the added bonus of all equipment and detours already being in place. There was no bidding process because “D” Construction already is mobilized on-site and can provide the lowest rate, Mayor Richard Kopczick said. The city will amend this year’s budget to add the $175,000 expenditure. The money is in the city’s fund; the project just wasn’t planned for when the budget was created, Kopczick said. City council also is set Nov.
16 to consider whether to join the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network program, along with about 230 other municipalities. Hansen said joining can be a great benefit regionally, especially considering the tornadoes that have hit the area in recent years. Hansen said the network fast tracks the public works decision-making process when municipalities need assistance from others. The committee also recommended council approve twohour parking regulations on Brentwood Drive adjacent to the Morris Business & Technology Center on Route 47. Hansen said the owner requested one-hour parking, but Hansen suggested two hours. “I’m looking at it as a trial,” Hansen said. “[If it passes], we can see how it looks in a year.” He said the owner plans to add pedestrian ramps because a significant number of visitors to the building are medical patients.
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The Herald-News • Sunday, November 8, 2015
| LOCAL NEWS
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